Secondhand smoke is a combination of the smoke from the lighted end of cigar, pipe or cigarette and the smoke exhaled by the smoker. This is also called Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS). Secondhand smoke has a serious impact on health and is recognized as known cancer causing agent.
Many women stop smoking after getting pregnant, but they forget the fact that they have to protect their baby from secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke that fills the air from other people’s cigarettes is also dangerous for your baby.
Pregnant women who get exposed to cigarette smoke have more chances of:
- Getting colds and headaches
- More difficult delivery
- Giving birth to a smaller than average baby
- Having a sick baby who cries a lot
For your baby, secondhand smoke:
- Makes it hard to breathe
- Causes the eyes to sting
- Increases the chances of getting colds, ear infections, bronchitis and pneumonia
- Puts at risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
For kids, secondhand smoke:
- Causes lower respiratory tract infections
- Causes fluid buildup in the middle ear
- Can aggravate asthma symptoms
- Can cause mucus, cough, and reduction of lung function
To make people not to smoke, around you and your baby:
- Put a “no smoking” board near the baby’s crib
- Ask babysitters not to smoke while they care your baby
- Let everyone not smoke in your house or your car.
- Tell all your family members and friends that smoke cause ill health to you, the mother, and the baby.
Secondhand smoke contains about 4000 chemical, 60 of these chemicals cause cancer. Secondhand smoke is high in public places, workplaces, restaurants etc. Secondhand smoke, especially in the house, can linger for a long time and this can dangerously affect the kids. Hence, parents should take steps to protect their kids from secondhand smoke
1 Comment
Why are posts like this written – without further followup? Don’t you feel like we are left hanging?